Final answer:
Upon receiving an anonymous tip about potential identity theft by an employee, one should notify senior management and not confront the employee or call the police directly. Techniques like the Appeal to a Higher Authority could be used by an accused employee to justify theft as a necessary act for a greater good. Ethical decision-making is context-dependent, especially when legal authorities are involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you receive an anonymous tip that one of the company employees is suspected of stealing employee data for identity theft purposes, the appropriate course of action would be to notify senior management and begin an investigation. Immediately calling the police or confronting the employee could potentially disrupt the investigation or lead to legal complications. Dismissing the tip could allow the theft to continue unchecked. It is important for an organization to handle such sensitive matters with professionalism and to follow established protocols.
Applying techniques to such a scenario, for an employee labeled as a thief, they may use the Appeal to a Higher Authority technique. They could justify their wrongful actions by stating they were undertaken for a greater good, such as to pay for a sick mother's medicine. Regardless, any admission of theft for any reason should be followed by appropriate legal and disciplinary action.
In a different scenario, where ethical decision-making is required, for instance witnessing a neighbor's suspicious behavior, an individual must make a judgment informed by personal ethics and observations. The situation becomes more complex if the pursuer is a police officer and the individual is aware of the neighbor's potential criminal activity. Here, the ethical responsibility may shift, requiring a different course of action based on the context and personal duty to uphold the law.